Americas

Americas

UN Security Council imposes new sanctions on Iran

26 March 2007 10:22 (UTC +04:00)

The new sanctions, moderately harsher than those included in previous resolutions on the Iranian nuclear issue, also call for a freeze of assets of an additional 28 individuals and entities involved in Iranâ€™s nuclear and missile programs.
The resolution imposes a strict import/export ban on Iranian weapons, holding that "Iran shall not supply, sell or transfer directly or indirectly from its territory or by its nationals or using its flag vessels or aircraft any arms or related materiel, and that all States shall prohibit the procurement of such items from Iran by their nationals, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, and whether or not originating in the territory of Iran."
It requires the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to report back in 60 days on whether Iran has suspended enrichment work.
The Council will review Iranâ€™s actions in light of that report and will suspend the sanctions "if and for so long as Iran suspends all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, as verified by the IAEA, to allow for negotiations in good faith in order to reach an early and mutually acceptable outcome."
In the previous resolution, adopted last December, the Security Council ordered all countries to stop supplying Iran with materials and technology that could contribute to its nuclear and missile programs.
However, if Iran does not comply, the Council will "adopt further appropriate measures" aimed at persuading Teheran to comply with its resolutions and the requirements of the IAEA, the resolution warns. That rules out any military action against Iran.
The resolution is the third in a series of Security Council measures aimed at compelling Iran to halt uranium enrichment and provide answers to questions about its nuclear program, which was developed in secret for nearly 20 years.
The first was last July after Iran rejected a European offer to help develop light water power plants with no weapons applications, the Security Council demanded Iran halt its nuclear program or face sanctions.
The second came in December, when the Security Council imposed its first sanctions, banning the supply of nuclear and missile technology to Iran, and freezing the assets of 10 key Iranian companies and people related to those programs.
A European incentives package promising investment, technological assistance and partnership in a nuclear power program has remained on the table, but Iran has rejected it. The package would take the technology to develop a complete fuel cycle and thus the potential for developing nuclear weapons out of Iranâ€™s hands. The council has also promised to suspend sanctions after Iran has verifiably suspended enrichment activities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, addressing the council after the vote, defended Tehranâ€™s nuclear program as for civilian use and rejected the new resolution as a "scheme" aimed at "depriving the Iranian people of its inalienable rights." He said "a few select countries donâ€™t have the right to abuse the Security Council" and described the new sanctions as "illegal, unwarranted and unjustified." He said they undermine the credibility of the Security Council, adding two options to proceed on the nuclear issue: continued negotiations or confrontation and the resolution was the wrong choice. /APA/